Haifa Ross

BSC (Phys), MSC (Eng), PhD (Nuclear Physics), PGCE, FWES

Haifa is an international academic with over 30 years professional teaching and research experience in the UK, USA, Germany, Italy and Jordan.

Haifa gained her PhD in nuclear physics from the University of Birmingham, MSc in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Missouri /Columbia and BSc in Physics from the University of Jordan. She was presented with the Queen Noor honours award as a ‘Pioneer Woman in Jordan’ as the first woman in the seventies to get a higher education degree in Nuclear Engineering and in recognition of notable achievements in her field. In a constrained and male dominated culture and where there were no female role models at that time to identify with, this was a great achievement for Haifa and also fuelled her passion to promote women in science and engineering.

Haifa has been involved in advance science and engineering research with her central interest being in the field of nuclear physics and its application using the MURR Research Reactor, University of Birmingham Dynamitron and the University of Jordan Van de Graaff accelerator. Further, she has been involved in radiation detection, measurement techniques and the application of these techniques in analysis. She used particle accelerators and research reactors to develop a three-dimensional emission Gamma camera and used Proton-induced-X ray emissions to analyse normal and diseased tissues, determine the protein content of kidney stones, the effects of smoking on the placenta and other topics in nuclear medicine. She has published numerous research papers in international journals and participated in several professional national and international conferences.

While her two children were in primary school Haifa worked part time at Coventry University, the Open University and as consultant to the British council.

Haifa returned to full time work in Engineering Management as the Head of School of Engineering at Solihull College and University Centre. During her 16 years there she led the introduction and establishment of the Aerospace Engineering programme and continued to develop the automotive, electronics and manufacturing disciplines. She led the school from strength to strength by nurturing engineering education, skills and promoting excellence in Engineering.

She has professional extensive experience in university teaching, training, quality research projects and developing special education programs. She has also worked with higher and further education bodies and with organisations running training and accreditation schemes.

In June 2016, Haifa was included in a list as one of the top 50 influential women engineers in the UK as compiled by the Telegraph in collaboration with the Women’s Engineering Society (WES). Haifa was elected as a Fellow of WES later that year.

Throughout her career, Haifa has tried to empower and promote women in to becoming scientists and engineers and her message to girls is “Engineering is too important to be left only to men”.

Now retired, Haifa is currently enjoying travelling with her husband, looking after her two grandchildren and voluntary work through WES and Soroptimist International.